Self Realization v God - Think Atheist2015-03-31T21:26:25Zhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/self-realization-v-god?commentId=1982180%3AComment%3A1328270&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMust be a slow week for offer…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-19:1982180:Comment:13329072013-06-19T12:59:46.338Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>Must be a slow week for offers --</p>
<p>Must be a slow week for offers --</p> Best offer I have had all wee…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-19:1982180:Comment:13328132013-06-19T08:00:35.033Zdiggerbankshttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/AndyFletcher
<p>Best offer I have had all week. : )</p>
<p>Best offer I have had all week. : )</p> I often find great wisdom in…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13290132013-06-18T16:47:31.708Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>I often find great wisdom in the work of the Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran, and two things he said, in different poems, both apply to you - he said that the strongest steel is forged in the hottest flame, and that confirms our own colloquial expression, "Anything that doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."</p>
<p>He further said, poetically, what you have already realized your job to be - "<em>You are the bows, from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth upon the path of the…</em></p>
<p>I often find great wisdom in the work of the Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran, and two things he said, in different poems, both apply to you - he said that the strongest steel is forged in the hottest flame, and that confirms our own colloquial expression, "Anything that doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."</p>
<p>He further said, poetically, what you have already realized your job to be - "<em>You are the bows, from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth upon the path of the infinite.</em>"</p>
<p>You have my greatest respect, and I will stop needling you, as much.</p> In this story I am trying to…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13286832013-06-18T13:32:23.684ZBarry Adamsonhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BarryAdamson
<p>In this story I am trying to convey that I know what it means to be under or not realized. While I grew up in a well-off middle class family that seemed quite functional, I found myself struggling to belong. In order to compensate for this, I often "did the right thing" or what was expected just to gain acceptance. In return, however, it cost me. </p>
<p>My folks and the educational system of which I was involved made it very clear to me that I had to live an existence that I did not…</p>
<p>In this story I am trying to convey that I know what it means to be under or not realized. While I grew up in a well-off middle class family that seemed quite functional, I found myself struggling to belong. In order to compensate for this, I often "did the right thing" or what was expected just to gain acceptance. In return, however, it cost me. </p>
<p>My folks and the educational system of which I was involved made it very clear to me that I had to live an existence that I did not quite fit into, but I tried anyway because I was often told that I didn't know was I was talking about, that I was stupid, or full of shit. I was also told since childhood that they "didn't understand me" making me feel as though something was wrong with me. It left me very much a boy inside.</p>
<p>The only person who had confidence in me was and is my wife, who saw something that I didn't. Yet even so, I spent all of my youth and young adulthood trying to fit into jobs, careers and roles that were acceptable to the world even though they fell short of who I am. </p>
<p>It was not until my thirty-third year that my inner self had other plans, and sadly such a transformation to shape in conflict with the church I was working in and my family. And so, I have spent the last 14 months reclaiming myself, declaring to my family and the world who I am and not giving a damn what they think of me if it is unacceptable. Afterall, I am doing this not just for me, but for my children. I have three boys, the middle child being very much like me, and I saw myself repeating the same patterns of behavior that was done to me. This ends now. </p>
<p>My hope is that he will be able to flourish in ways that were denied to me as a child, so that when he has to leave the nest he will go farther and faster than what time has allotted me.</p> Granted, Barry, I do respect…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13286632013-06-18T05:06:58.941Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>Granted, Barry, I do respect your intellect and your ability to reason, and believe me, I need all the friends I can get, but go too far in the "<em>woo</em>" department, and I'll be all over you like a mongoose with a cobra addiction - but in the nicest possible way --</p>
<p>Granted, Barry, I do respect your intellect and your ability to reason, and believe me, I need all the friends I can get, but go too far in the "<em>woo</em>" department, and I'll be all over you like a mongoose with a cobra addiction - but in the nicest possible way --</p> Actually, I know you know tha…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13287762013-06-18T04:51:07.245Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>Actually, I know you know that, but since you and I have gone a couple of rounds in the past, I just needed to be sure you understood that this wasn't Round 3 - if that should happen, I'm sure you will be able to tell the difference.</p>
<p>Actually, I know you know that, but since you and I have gone a couple of rounds in the past, I just needed to be sure you understood that this wasn't Round 3 - if that should happen, I'm sure you will be able to tell the difference.</p> Well, I read The Boy by Baile…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13285722013-06-18T03:26:58.530Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>Well, I read <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.baileronin.com/2013/05/the-boy.html" target="_blank">The Boy by Baile Ronin</a> and tried to leave a comment, using my WordPress account, but after posting, was given a message by WordPress that read, "You do not own this account." Well, if I don't, who the hell does?</p>
<p>Sorry, I went away for awhile, but I'm back now. I think you write well, and as a writer myself, if I wore a hat, I'd take it off!</p>
<p>Well, I read <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.baileronin.com/2013/05/the-boy.html" target="_blank">The Boy by Baile Ronin</a> and tried to leave a comment, using my WordPress account, but after posting, was given a message by WordPress that read, "You do not own this account." Well, if I don't, who the hell does?</p>
<p>Sorry, I went away for awhile, but I'm back now. I think you write well, and as a writer myself, if I wore a hat, I'd take it off!</p> And to your answer, I reply:…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13285682013-06-18T03:19:59.694ZBarry Adamsonhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BarryAdamson
<p>And to your answer, I reply: rightly so, my friend.</p>
<p>And to your answer, I reply: rightly so, my friend.</p> Just let me say that I don't…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13287552013-06-18T03:04:09.782Zarchaeopteryxhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/xn/detail/u_2gskiyna07rt3
<p>Just let me say that I don't think you're finished processing --</p>
<p>Just let me say that I don't think you're finished processing --</p> I know it wasn't. I took you…tag:www.thinkatheist.com,2013-06-18:1982180:Comment:13287542013-06-18T03:02:45.379ZBarry Adamsonhttp://www.thinkatheist.com/profile/BarryAdamson
<p>I know it wasn't. I took your comment very lightly, and laughed at myself. I often try to do the same as you with proof reading, but also get distracted sometimes and forget.</p>
<p>I know it wasn't. I took your comment very lightly, and laughed at myself. I often try to do the same as you with proof reading, but also get distracted sometimes and forget.</p>